Crunch time for France’s labour reform, unions prepare to strike

After a total of 48 meetings between the French government and trade unions, the likely form of new labour legislation will be announced on Tuesday, August 23.

However, the CGT and SUD have already called for a day of mobilisation on September 12, guessing that the changes the government is planning to make will not be to their liking.

Government teams have been working since the beginning of August to draft regulations reforming labour law. This is a first draft of their work, which should cover 200 pages, which will now be presented to trade unions and employers. A consolidated text will be officially presented August 31.

Among the major reforms expected are several procedural measures, such as harmonisation of time limits for the use of industrial tribunals, while other changes are more fundamental, and deal with issues such as problems faced by multinationals dismissing workers in France.

Following a final consultation process, ordinances will be adopted in the Council of Ministers during the week of September 18 and published in the Official Journal a week later. They will enter into force immediately.

Without waiting for arbitration, opposition to the reform has already been organised.

[caption id="attachment_2287" align="aligncenter" width="703"] Pilots Melanie Astles and Quentin Smith to speak at Air League fundraiser. Photos: Facebook Team Mélanie Astles; Facebook Quentin Smith[/caption]
Monaco’s Air League is holding a fundraising evening on September 6, from 6 to 8 pm, by the kind permission of Sir Stelios Haji-Ionnou, patron of the Air League of Monaco. The highlight of the evening will be presentations by two accomplished pilots: Melanie Astles, and Quentin Smith. Melanie is the first female pilot ever to have joined the Red Bull Air Racing Team. A world champion aerobatic pilot, she has won the French aerobatic championships more than once, and is training to be a French Air Force pilot. Melanie is from Monaco and Cap d’Ail and is “looking forward” to speaking to junior members.
Quentin, who will give a short talk, runs a successful helicopter training and maintenance centre. He is a two-time Helicopter Freestyle Aerobatics World Champion, the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a piston engine helicopter and the first person to fly to both North and South Poles by helicopter. He is also one of a small number of pilots to have survived ditching an aircraft in the South Atlantic.
Drinks will be available at €20 each and payment is via an honesty bar, with all proceeds going to the Air League of Monaco. The event will be held on the terrace of easyGroup Holdings Ltd., Avenue de la Quarantaine.
Places limited. Contact to confirm attendance: Vanessa Ilsley - vi@airleague.mc or Susan Webb: jwebb@monaco.mc
READ ALSO:First bursaries from Monaco Air League

[caption id="attachment_13787" align="alignnone" width="640"] Photo: James Palinsad[/caption]
A Monegasque student has been sentenced to eight days in jail for drunk driving on the route of the Monaco Grand Prix.
His car finished up against the fountain of the Fairmont Hotel after the 20-year-old failed to negotiate the famous Fairmont turn on the avenue des Spélugues in his Seat Ibiza at 5:30 am on the morning of July 9, the Monaco Criminal Court was told
When police first arrived on the scene, their first concern was for the well-being of the driver, since the car was on its side. However, the driver suffered only bruises.
The accused told the court that he had drunk three glasses of vodka at Zelo’s. "I recognise that alcohol has influenced my behaviour ... I understand my mistake and the lesson ... I will not do it again,” he said.
Prosecutor Cyrielle Colle reminded the accused: "You were absolutely not in a position to drive your vehicle. It is important that at the end of this procedure you understand that after drinking you can no longer be a master of yourself.” A penalty of eight days' imprisonment, suspended, and a fine of €45 was called for. The court followed the request of the public prosecutor.